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What will a Biomethane Potential (BMP) Lab Test do for You?

Anaerobic digestion of solid organic waste such as bio-waste, sludge, cattle manure, energy crops and other biomasses, for bio-energy production is a widely applied technology used by a variety of Decision Makers. BMP Lab Tests are a key parameter for assessing design, economic and managing issues for the full scale implementation of anaerobic digestion processes.

Anaerobic Digestion – Consulting: BMP lab tests support the analysis effort in recognizing feasible and unfeasible anaerobic digestion projects and to fine-tune and optimize current and future projects to maximize biomethane production.

Anaerobic Digestion – Developers: BMP lab tests reinforce the credibility of the financials during the
due-diligence process by offering quantitative lab test results for current and future projects.

Anaerobic Digestion – Engineering: Whether you are working with anaerobic wastewater treatment or anaerobic digestion of high solids/high-strength wastes in the public or private sectors, BMP testing should be included in the overall design and operation of the project.

You Decide Between Five Industry Accepted Lab Test Guidelines

The ADLTN Labs have a proven track record for providing lab test services following the industry recognized top BMP protocols: ASTM, Gunaseelan, DIN, VDI 4630 and BPC resulting in automated, accurate and reliable measurements for biogas/biomethane production. In addition, each lab test may include a scheduled debriefing and interpretation session with the ADLTN Lab performing the test.

Biomethane Potential Testing Reporting (BMP)

The BMP (Biomethane Potential Test) provides a preliminary indication of the biodegradability of a substrate (organic material) and it’s potential to produce methane via anaerobic digestion. The normal procedure to determine the methanogenic activity involves inoculating a number of vials containing a small amount of the target substrate with an anaerobic inoculum (typically waste water sludge or dairy manure), incubating them at a controlled temperature and periodically checking for the methane production by manual sampling and determination of the volume of gas released and analyzing the gas composition using gas chromatography (GC). This process is labor, time and economically intensive. The ADLTN Labs provide testing using the AMPTS (Automatic Methane Potential Test System), which automates the process of collecting the gas and analyzing the gas sample for methane content.

Locate a full service lab – specializing in organics/biomass testing near you

Team Biogas® has brought together a select group of University, Commercial and Private laboratories strategically located in the United States and Canada – The Anaerobic Digestion Lab Test Network – ADLTN. The ADLTN Labs are equipped and trained to support Anaerobic Digestion research, feedstock substrate testing, Anaerobic Digester operational support, and understand how to achieve high biogas/biomethane yields and stability. Our ADLTN labs are equipped to conduct basic gas volume, kinetics to determine digester size and highly detailed materials testing.

Expanded List of Gas Composition Analysis (GCA) Testing Options

Biogas is a renewable energy composed primarily of methane resulting from the natural decomposition of organic waste by anaerobic bacteria.

Similar to natural gas, methane captured by a biogas system can be substituted to conventional fossil fuel to provide heat, electrical power or transportation biofuel and therefore reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere.

Gas Composition Analysis is a critical step in the planning of a conditioning system as well as ongoing maintenance. Through our lab testing partners, we offer the following Gas Composition Analysis testing options to meet all your system requirements:

MAJOR CONSTITUENTS

Following EPA Method 3C or ASTM D1945/1946, Methane (CH4), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Oxygen (O2) and Nitrogen (N2) are reported in terms of their concentrations in the sample. The BTU calculation follows ASTM D3588. The relative density calculation is based on the major components.

ASTM Test Protocol

ASTM International is a globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of voluntary consensus standards. Today, over 12,000 ASTM standards are used around the world to improve product quality, enhance health and safety, strengthen market access and trade, and build consumer confidence.

Our leadership in international standards development is driven by the contributions of our members: more than 30,000 of the world’s top technical experts and business professionals representing 140 countries. Working in an open and transparent process and using ASTM’s advanced IT infrastructure, our members create the test methods, specifications, classifications, guides and practices that support industries and governments worldwide.

VDI 4630 Test Protocol

The VDI 4630 standard provides rules and specifications for tests to determine the biogas output of organic materials which serve the interpretation and operational optimization of biogas plants. Thus, it gives comprehensive and practice relevant support for the determination of the biogas orientation of organic materials.

The standard defines essential terms to avoid misunderstandings. It presents approaches to the reader which allow a comprehensive characterization of all organic substances used in practice. A common procedure is suggested for the sampling and sample preparation. Information is provided on the preconditions of how and which data on substrates are measured and what should be considered particularly. Furthermore, it describes the procedure for the execution of batch and continuous tests. It finally offers corresponding forms for a clear representation of the results.

Gunaseelan Test Protocol

A method, referred to as the biochemical methane potential (BMP) assay, was developed to estimate the ultimate conversion and associated methane yield of organic substrates. This method has been widely applied with minor modification to determine the ultimate methane production from a variety of feedstocks.

Our laboratory has evaluated factors influencing this assay, including inoculum source, inoculum-to-feed ratio, and particle size. We have also applied a modified form of the assay to determine the extent and rate of conversion of a variety of feedstocks, including samples of marine, freshwater, herbaceous, and woody plants and several municipal and industrial wastes.

The BMP assay has proved to be a relatively simple and reliable method for comparison of extent and rate of conversion to methane. These properties can be factored into an evaluation of biomass production and conversion systems, including feedstock selection; growth, harvest, and storage conditions; biogasification; gas use; and residue processing.

DIN Test Protocol

The DIN lab test protocol was created to build trust and acceptance, while building a network of potential partners and customers.

Five reasons to choose DIN SPEC:

Networking: The DIN SPEC process requires an exchange of experience with important market participants. This involves networking with key players. As a result, the needs of manufacturer and customer alike are covered by a common specification.

Worldwide acceptance: The DIN ‘brand’ stands for success throughout the world and creates trust. This makes your innovation accepted by users and investors alike.

Plug & Play: The DIN SPEC process makes sure innovations are up-to-date with the latest technology. Users thus have no trouble working with your innovation.

Easy: DIN organizes the entire DIN SPEC process from beginning to end. This saves you time, letting you concentrate on content and networking with your partners.

Fast: DIN SPECs can be developed and published within only a few months.

Anaerobic Toxicity Assay (ATA)

Technical procedures are well documented for measuring the toxicity (Anaerobic Toxicity Assay—ATA) of material subjected to anaerobic treatment. These relatively simple bioassays can be conducted in most research laboratories without the need for sophisticated equipment. The ATA measures the adverse effect of a compound on the rate of the total gas production from an easily-utilized, methanogenic substrate.

Specific Methanogenic Activity (SMA)

Specific methanogenic activity (SMA) determines the methane-producing capability of the sludge for a specific substrate. Methanogenic activity test can be used to delineate the operating conditions for anaerobic systems and a parameter to assess the system performance by giving a better perceptive of the system and its stability.

At the beginning of the start-up period of a new digester, the SMA is of great importance for the determination of proper initial organic loading rate. In different phases, a regular determination of SMA also ascertains the development stages of the sludge. Also, a change in SMA indicates an inhibition or an accumulation of slow degradable or even non-biodegradable organic matter from the influents.

Methanogen Population ID and DNA

Archaea were initially classified as bacteria, receiving the name archaebacteria (in the Archaebacteria kingdom). This classification is now outdated. Archaeal cells have unique properties separating them from the other two domains of life, Bacteria and Eukaryota. The Archaea are further divided into multiple recognized phyla. Classification is difficult because the majority have not been isolated in the laboratory and have only been detected by analysis of their nucleic acids in samples from their environment.

“Ripley Ratio”

The determination of the volatile organic acids (FOS) and total inorganic carbon (TAC) or buffer monitor the fermentation process in biogas reactors. Determination of FOSTAC value is performed as an endpoint titration to two pH endpoint using sulfuric acid.